Lifting device

Abstract

A lifting device suitable for assisting the elderly, invalids or those recuperating from surgery to rise from a seated position to a standing position includes a rigid base ( 2 ) connected by a hinge ( 4 ) to a rigid seat ( 3 ). A closed bag ( 5 ) is interposed between and is secured to the base ( 2 ) and seat ( 3 ). By inflating the bag ( 5 ) the seat may be raised from a substantially horizontal position to a raised position to assist a seated person to rise to a standing position. A cushion ( 17 ) may be provided on the seat ( 3 ). The device may be used in reverse to assist a user in moving from a standing position to a seated position. A suitable inflation pump and control gear is provided to admit air to and remove air from the bag ( 5 ) via a tube ( 12 ).

1 . A lifting device comprising a rigid base hingedly connected to a rigid seat, and an inflatable bag located between the base and the seat and secured to at least one of the rigid base and rigid seat, whereby inflation of the bag will cause the angle between the hingedly connected base and seat to increase and thereby lift a user seated on the seat.  
     
     
         2 . A lifting device according to  claim 1  wherein the base and/or the seat are plastics moldings.  
     
     
         3 . A lifting device according to  claim 2  wherein both the base and the seat are plastics moldings and the hinge is formed by projections which are integral with the base and the seat and are interconnected by a hinge pin.  
     
     
         4 . A lifting device according to  claim 1  wherein the bag comprises a tube and substantially flat ends.  
     
     
         5 . A lifting device according to  claim 4  wherein the tube is curved.  
     
     
         6 . A lifting device according to  claim 4  wherein the material of the tube is secured to the material of the ends to form outwardly projecting flanges which are used to secure the bag to the base and/or the seat.  
     
     
         7 . A lifting device according to  claim 6  wherein a flange ring is used to secure at least one of the flanges to the base or the seat, the flange ring being provided with means for securing the flange ring to the base or the seat with the material of the flange trapped between the flange ring and the base or the seat.  
     
     
         8 . A lifting device according to  claim 7  wherein the securing means comprises snap-fit fasteners formed integrally with or secured to the flange ring for engaging snap-fit openings provided in the base or seat.  
     
     
         9 . A lifting device according to  claim 1  including means for locating the device on an existing chair.  
     
     
         10 . A lifting device according to  claim 9  wherein the locating means comprises a flange secured to the base and depending from the base to locate the base adjacent the front edge of an existing chair.  
     
     
         11 . A lifting device according to  claim 1  including a cushion secured to the rigid seat.  
     
     
         12 . A lifting device comprising: 
 a rigid base hingedly connected to a rigid seat; and    an inflatable tubular shaped bag having substantially flat ends located between the base and the seat and secured to at least one of the rigid base and rigid seat; and    inflation means which inflates the bag to cause the angle between the hingedly connected base and seat to increase and thereby lift a user seated on the seat.    
     
     
         13 . A lifting device according to  claim 12  wherein the base and/or the seat are plastics moldings.  
     
     
         14 . A lifting device according to  claim 12  wherein the tube is curved.  
     
     
         15 . A lifting device according to  claim 12  wherein the material of the tube is secured to the material of the ends to form outwardly projecting flanges which are used to secure the bag to the base and/or the seat.  
     
     
         16 . A lifting device according to  claim 15  wherein a flange ring is used to secure at least one of the flanges to the base or the seat, the flange ring being provided with means for securing the flange ring to the base or the seat with the material of the flange trapped between the flange ring and the base or the seat.  
     
     
         17 . A lifting device according to  claim 16  wherein the securing means comprises snap-fit fasteners formed integrally with or secured to the flange ring for engaging snap-fit openings provided in the base or seat.  
     
     
         18 . A lifting device according to  claim 12  including means for locating the device on an existing chair.  
     
     
         19 . A lifting device according to  claim 18  wherein the locating means comprises a flange secured to the base and depending from the base to locate the base adjacent the front edge of an existing chair.  
     
     
         20 . A lifting device according to  claim 12  including a cushion secured to the rigid seat.  
     
     
         21 . A lifting device according to  claim 12  including deflation means which permits the bag to deflate to assist a user in sitting down.